When I first walked into the Irvine Animal Care Center in Irvine, CA, I was blown away by the beauty of the shelter. First of all, it was huge. It’s hard to get a sense of scope while just talking on the phone, but the rolling hills and wonderful dog …

]]>When I first walked into the Irvine Animal Care Center in Irvine, CA, I was blown away by the beauty of the shelter. First of all, it was huge. It’s hard to get a sense of scope while just talking on the phone, but the rolling hills and wonderful dog runs, farm area, rabbit yard, and indoor/outdoor cat kennels made me feel so happy for the animals and a bit nervous about how I was going to make this shelter any more appealing than it already was. I was, at that point, in the planning stages for a huge volunteer event with MARS Petcare. My job was to not only make a palpable, visible difference to the shelter overall, but to also keep 200 volunteers busy for 2 ½ hours. With a month of planning, 34 separate events were created to make the shelter a better place for the adoptable pets and shelter staff.

I left early on the Monday before the event, driving from Tucson, AZ, to Irvine with a cargo van loaded with an arsenal of tools and a positive attitude. I got to the shelter at 2 p.m. and got right to work. I had to have everything set up and ready for the volunteers to start working on that Thursday, but first, I had some repairs and renovations that I had to do. In the front of the shelter, a soda machine and a wooden bench sat sullenly under pale red veranda bleached by the California sun. The bench was littered with cobwebs, suggesting that the only patrons of this sad bench are of the eight-legged variety. The soda machine, although in high demand, was a bit of an eyesore as a focal point in the front of the shelter. I removed the wooden fencing enclosing and supporting the veranda to make it more open and inviting, and supported it with smaller cross beams that kept it strong without taking up crucial space in the front of the shelter. Being the macho head case that I am, I attempted to move the soda machine on my own and quickly discovered that I couldn’t defeat the machine on my own. That would have to wait until the next day.

In the back of the shelter, there is a meet-and-greet barn where potential adopters are encouraged to spend quiet time with pets to get a better sense of who they are. It was in desperate need of repair. The entire back facing of the barn had severe water damage and was falling apart and the inside front door was a fright. The sun had long since faded into the ocean as I started to tear off the paneling, a small floodlight and a headlamp my only guides. As I progressed deeper into the project, I realized that the water damage was far more extensive than I had originally thought; the studs were also in poor shape. I moved on to the front door; somehow the inside of the door was water damaged while the outside remained perfectly fine. Twenty minutes later, the door was done and it was time to clean up and get some sleep for the next day.

The Irvine Animal Care Center is closed to the public on Tuesdays, which is nice. I knew that I could get all of the loud, messy projects out of the way without interrupting the flow of the public into the shelter; also, I got to hang out with the animals while I worked. After an early morning trip to the store for supplies, I was ready to get to work. I finished the back facing of the meet-and-greet and the door, one project ready for paint. At this point the soda machine guys showed up, as did the fountain delivery guys. The fountain was to go in the spot where the soda machine lived, so we grabbed a dolly, emptied out the machine, hiked our pants, tied our shoes, and moved the machine with nothing more than every bit of strength and sheer determination we had in us. I moved on to help the guys move the fountain, which was just a little easier than moving the soda machine. After moving, placing and leveling the fountain, I had to move on to complete more projects. This was my only day without interruption, so I had to make the best of it.

A hungry pig enjoys some tasty grass at the Irvine Animal Care Center.

The goats, chickens and pigs were let out of the farm area so that I could power wash the barns and housing inside the farm. Three porcine friends decided to stick with me, opting to take advantage of the cool mist and subsequent mud that my activities resulted in. When I finished in the farm area I left to power wash all the benches on the property, leaving three very happy, cool pigs in virtual hog heaven. The benches, although there were more of them, were a far easier task and the goats were having fun following me around bleating at me as I washed. I left the yard when I was all done and moved to the back where I started to cut the wood that would eventually become beautiful planter boxes. Boxes done, I moved on to cutting wood for the cat scratchers and drilling holes. After a full day, and the sun still shining, I went back to the store to get some more supplies with a nice crust of sawdust and grime covering my body. Back at the shelter, I began to organize the supplies and set up stations as best I could before the deliveries arrived the next day.

After a restless night of sleep, I showed up at the shelter the next morning and began to further organize the supplies. As I finished with what I had, all the deliveries showed up at the same time. As soon as the delivery was unloaded, the plants arrived; after the plants arrived, the team leads from MARS showed up for their initial walkthrough and debriefing. I looked upon the MARS associates, with their fresh faces and clean clothes, with a pang of hunger, realizing that I’d eaten one full meal since pulling into Irvine, so I wrote on my arm, in marker, EAT, and moved on with the walkthrough.

We started at the front gate. To the right of the gate sat the veranda. A fountain, a giant concrete bench in the shape of a bone and branded with the MARS logo, and a rosewood planter were going to be placed in there. Also, the entire structure was to be painted red with white trim. Farther right was the farm area and all of the structures had to be painted and cleaned, as well as three yards of dirt brought in to level out the yard that the farm animals had dug out and made serious ruts in. The path that runs along the side of the building is where we were to put the sensory path, the sensory path consisted of rectangular planters that contain a variety of pet safe herbs that not only provide intoxicating smells but is visually stimulating. Along that same path, MARS volunteers were going to put different colored paw prints to make a path to the cats and dogs stay. Halfway up the path is where the rabbit yard is and the volunteers were going to wash the cages, the blocks, and replace all the bedding in the pens. The back of the shelter had a couple of projects, painting some green barns, organizing the donation space, building shelves, covering dog kennels with tarps, building the planter boxes, and beautifying the dog yard that had a pergola where plants that will creep up the sides when placed. The volunteers were also going to make cat scratchers, paint the inside cat room, paint all of the wooden benches, washing windows, assembling waste stations, mulching, and overall clean-up.

After about an hour and a half of discussing the event that was to take place in a mere 26 hours, I had to gracefully bow out and seriously get to work. I was right on schedule and had at this point run into no problems and wanted to keep it that way. Then I remembered the benches that I had ordered two weeks ago that still hadn’t arrived. I got on the phone and was assured that the benches would be at the shelter before the event the next day. Going back to the large shipment and taking stock of what was delivered, I noticed that numerous items were missing, so back to the store I went. I finished shopping and got back to the shelter around 5 p.m. I had a list of all the projects that needed to be done, so I started at the first one and gathered all the materials and supplies that I needed to get the job done. I did this for every project that the volunteers would be doing. By 11:30 p.m. I had finished all the project set-up and left the shelter feeling good. The next day was the big day and I had an early morning to look forward to.

The obnoxious hotel telephone quickly woke me up at 6 a.m. and I dressed and headed out the door for a half-hour drive to Laguna to meet with the MARS staff to quickly go over the events of the afternoon. As I walked into the hotel, I was informed that the equipment that was available to me to move the 2,000-lb. concrete benches would not be able to do the job. So I spent the first half of the briefing on the phone trying to track down a forklift that I could use to move the benches. After numerous phone calls and faxes from the hotel, I got a forklift that was going to be delivered in two hours. I went back to the briefing and finished up with MARS, went over last-minute details and went back to the shelter. The forklift arrived early and, although bigger than I’d expected, did the job wonderfully. With the benches in place, we were now fully ready to go — except for the other benches I had ordered! I got on the phone and after a lot of back and forth and an apology, I was resigned to the fact that our benches would not be there on time.

MARS associates plant herbs in a volunteer-made rosewood planter box.

The first bus arrived with volunteers at 4 p.m., and that was the last time I looked at the clock until the event was over. Ron Edwards, the shelter director at Irvine, made a wonderful speech before the event started, and then it began. I have to say that the MARS Petcare team is by far the most efficient group of volunteers that I have ever had the pleasure of working with. Once the teams were set and the tasks explained, they went to work like a machine. I watched the shelter magically transform before my eyes. I was concerned that some of the tasks would be too demanding to finish within the time constraints, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It’s true that there is strength in numbers, and I bore full witness to this phenomenon.

When the event was done and the last of the volunteers had left, I stood in amazement, looking at the shelter that I had grown so accustomed to in the previous three days. It had been completely transformed. For the first time in days, I had nothing to do for a couple of minutes. I sat down in the grass and rested my head on my knees and felt a calm wash over me. I noticed that the dogs were not barking; all of them had been walked, played with, and were resting in their kennels; the cats, happy with their new scratchers, curled up and slept. My meditation was interrupted when I heard my name. I looked to see the shelter staff standing in front of me, beaming, and one crying. They helped me up and thanked me over and over. I kept telling them that they didn’t have to thank me, that all the thanks I need is knowing that the work we did will help the staff, help the pets that are waiting for their forever homes, and seeing the three pigs, ravenous, come running for the food that they had been deprived of while their abode was being touched up.

I lay in bed that night, weary from a long week and not looking forward to packing up and driving for eight hours, but slept better than I had in weeks, comforted by the fact that I had a part in making a tangible difference in the lives of so many. Oh, and in case you were wondering, I never did eat dinner Wednesday night.

Your donation to the Petfinder Foundation will help us renovate more shelters and give even more homeless pets a better quality of life and greater chance at finding forever homes.

The Petfinder Foundation‘s program assistant and resident photographer-videographer, Brody Anderson, spent last week in Tavares, FL, documenting Rescue U‘s renovation of Lake County Animal Services. He sent back this report: “I was fortunate enough to be a part of Rescue U’s January project at Carolina Waterfowl Rescue in Indian Trail, …

“I was fortunate enough to be a part of Rescue U’s January project at Carolina Waterfowl Rescue in Indian Trail, NC, so I thought I had a good idea of what I would witness at the Tavares build. The shelter would undergo a series of improvements with the intention of enriching the lives of the pets living there. Happy, healthy pets have a much better chance of finding forever homes.

“During the course of my visit, I had the opportunity to speak with the shelter’s animal services director, Marjorie Boyd. As our conversation progressed, I began to truly understand the impact the project would have for the shelter’s pets.

Zeus (left) and his sister Princess were both adopted during the Rescue U renovation.

“Marjorie was very excited about the new meet-and-greet yard. Families will now have a chance to spend quality time with the dogs, in the sun and away from the noisy kennel environment. With their stress levels lowered, each dog will have the chance to impress adopters. The majority of the shelter dogs were well-behaved, and many knew tricks. Playing a quick game of fetch or demonstrating sit-and-stay skills could be a shelter dog’s ticket to scoring a forever home.

“Being a big fan of cats, I was dismayed to hear how many at the shelter are euthanized each year. At first glance, many cats can seem shy and distant. This can be a turnoff for families looking for a household pet. Marjorie hopes the new outdoor cat enclosures and the new playroom will go a long way toward changing this perception. She works diligently to promote cat adoption and she’s convinced these new areas will have a positive effect.

“After my discussion with Marjorie, I wandered through the kennel corridors with my camera. I came across Zeus and Princess, brother and sister Pit Bull mixes. It was sad seeming them behind the chain-link kennel gates, but thanks to your generous donations, they got the chance to run and play in the meet-and-greet yard. And sure enough, both were adopted while I was in Florida.”

Your donation to the Petfinder Foundation will help us renovate more shelters and give even more homeless pets a better quality of life and greater chance at finding forever homes.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/03/a-shelter-renovation-is-the-key-to-getting-pets-adopted/feed/0LakeCountyCatThis cat at <a href="https://www.petfinder.com/shelters/FL803.html">Lake County Animal Services</a> in Tavares, FL, will soon enjoy a new outdoor enclosure.ZuesAndPrincessdonate.jpgSafe outdoor time is so important for adoptable cats!https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/02/safe-outdoor-time-is-so-important-for-adoptable-cats/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/02/safe-outdoor-time-is-so-important-for-adoptable-cats/#commentsTue, 26 Feb 2013 19:30:54 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/?p=20181

With Rescue U, I spend a lot of time going into animal shelter across the U.S., scouting locations for renovation builds, volunteering my time and actually building. The majority of the time we focus our efforts on the outside, building exercise pens, meet-and-greet areas, and making functional repairs to the …

With Rescue U, I spend a lot of time going into animal shelter across the U.S., scouting locations for renovation builds, volunteering my time and actually building. The majority of the time we focus our efforts on the outside, building exercise pens, meet-and-greet areas, and making functional repairs to the building or surrounding grounds.

One thing that always strikes me whenever I go into an animal shelter is the cats. Most of the time, the cats have their own large room and it’s filled with small cages where the cats spend the majority of their time. Some shelters have a colony room that they can go into for a short period of time, but then it’s back to the small cage. Typically there is no natural light, poor air flow and not enough room for them to exercise. That’s why building safe, enclosed outdoor cat areas is so important.

When we did a renovation in Jefferson City, TN, at the Humane Society of Jefferson County last May, where we built an outdoor cat area, I left feeling like I had really made a difference in the lives of the cats. I have a small obsession with cats. When I go into shelters, I always look at the ferals. It’s because of them that I realize how dire the cat situation is: Seeing a cat who is so used to roaming free and fending for himself trapped in a cage and terrified shows me what the other cats have resigned themselves to. When I saw the cats run out into the sun and have a safe place to stretch out and relax or play, it made all the frustration and hard work that went into building that enclosed yard instantly worth every second.

On March 9-16, Rescue U is going to Lake County Animal Services in Travares, FL, for our spring break renovation build, and one of the projects we are doing is building two separate outdoor enclosures that will include cat trees, scratching posts and toys.

This is extremely important for these cats. The area where they keep the cats is small, has no natural light, and is very stuffy. Making this area will allow the cats to not only have some outdoor time, but greatly improve the overall well-being of the cats. Melissa Enck Descant, shelter director at the Humane Society of Jefferson County, said it best: “The difference we have seen in the cats has been amazing. They are happier, healthier, and more playful. Our adoption rate for kittens has also increased. People love being able to go in and interact with the kittens, helping them to find their perfect companion. Our euthanasia rate is also down thanks to how healthy everyone has been.”

For this trip we have started a Groupon Grassroots Campaign to help with the cost of building these yards. The campaign runs through Wednesday, Feb. 27, and we need your help to reach our goal. We need 50 people to donate $10 to reach our goal of $500. The wonderful thing about this program is that any donations received beyond our goal will be used exclusively for improving life for the cats at the Tavares shelter. The last Groupon Grassroots Campaign that Rescue U participated in raised more than double our goal, and thanks to our generous donors, the Humane Society of West Michigan received a much larger dog agility course and we were able to put more money into other projects for the shelter.

We have volunteers coming out from Oklahoma, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Kentucky to help with this build. I’m sure that everyone who participates in this project will get the same gratification that I did in Jefferson County when they see the cats run out into the sun, stretch their legs and enjoy the fresh air that they would not have gotten otherwise.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/02/safe-outdoor-time-is-so-important-for-adoptable-cats/feed/0StormyPetuniaHow I became a bird guyhttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/01/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-a-bird/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/01/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-a-bird/#commentsThu, 24 Jan 2013 12:30:01 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/blog/?p=5906For most of my life, I was a self-proclaimed cat person. Don’t get me wrong: I love dogs — I’ve always just sided with felines. Maybe it’s their subtle personality quirks, or the way they make you work for the relationship, or the way they fall asleep for 19 hours …

]]>For most of my life, I was a self-proclaimed cat person. Don’t get me wrong: I love dogs — I’ve always just sided with felines. Maybe it’s their subtle personality quirks, or the way they make you work for the relationship, or the way they fall asleep for 19 hours a day and let you stack things on top of them and take photos. Whatever the reason, that has always been a part of my identity. That is, until last week.

You see, for the first two weeks of the year, I was with our Rescue U team in Indian Trail, NC, renovating a bird sanctuary. Carolina Waterfowl Rescue takes in tame and wild birds, gives them a safe and cage-free place to live, and works to find loving homes for the adoptable birds. The only bird rescue in the state, CWR adopts out about 1,800 birds a year and houses around 200 at any given time. The birds include ducks, geese, swans, turkeys, chickens, pigeons, herons, peacocks and cockatiels. Suffice it to say, it was a big change of pace from our usual Rescue U renovations of shelters that house mainly dogs and cats.

My Experience with the Birds of CWR

This yard of ducks is a typical scene at Carolina Waterfowl Rescue.

When I first saw one of CWR’s many yards, full of swimming, quacking and waddling ducks of all kinds, I thought, “Look, a bunch of ducks.” Sure, I could tell the difference between the mallards and the Muschovys and the domestic Pekin ducks, but within those groups, they all seemed to be clones of one another. This is what I see as the biggest challenge for bird advocates: To an outsider, individual birds’ appearances don’t make them as easy to connect with as dogs or cats. But like I said, one of the reasons I’m a cat guy is I like that I have to work for the relationship. And I could tell from watching the regular CWR volunteers interact with the birds that there was plenty of relationship to be had!

Mr. “T” the Turkey

Mr. “T” the turkey had a thing for Liz Baker, executive director of the GreaterGood Foundation.

Mr. “T” the turkey is one of the flashiest birds on the 11-acre property. A domestic breed of turkey, he imprinted on humans immediately after he hatched, and feels more comfortable around humans than other birds. He is constantly puffed up in a full-feathered display, walking around trying to impress all the volunteers and any other people on the property. He walks up to you and prances back and forth as if to say, “Aren’t I pretty?” You can tell by the way he cuddles you that he appreciates a good pet to let him know you saw him. And you can tell by the way he reacts to different people that he recognizes them and has favorites. He really had a thing for Liz Baker, executive director of the GreaterGood Foundation (who fully funded the renovation through The Animal Rescue Site), and would make his neck extra long any time she was around to show how big and tough he could be for her. Because Mr. “T” is imprinted on humans, he requires a lot of attention and is not adoptable. Instead, CWR uses him for educational purposes, bringing him to local schools and adoption events.

Rupert Huneycutt the Duck

Rupert imprinted on humans when he was born. His original family gave him a collar that he still likes to wear.

My personal favorite was Mr. Rupert Huneycutt the duck, another permanent resident. He followed the volunteers into the main shelter building every day for lunch, waddling and chatting us up with a “quack, quack, quack” the whole time. When you walk up to Rupert, he tilts his head down and to the side, so he can look at your face. This is something I never knew a bird would do, but the staff at CWR assure me birds can remember the faces of many people, and after years of no contact, will remember people they especially liked. I actually witnessed a woman who volunteered at CWR a few years ago come to visit during the renovation. I was told Mr. Fuzzy the Canada Goose had really liked her when she was a volunteer. Sure enough, when Mr. Fuzzy saw her he quickly ran to her for a pet and to say hi. I like to think Mr. Rupert liked me, and after about a week he would allow me to hold and pet him, and gave me plenty of love nibbles.

The Love Story of the Black Swans

These beautiful black swans are a mated pair and do not leave each others’ sides.

The emotional capacity of the birds is amazing. A lonely or under-stimulated bird will refuse to eat or will self-mutilate (pull his feathers out). But birds also exhibit this behavior when those they love are in trouble. There is a beautiful mated pair of black swans at CWR (swans mate for life) whose story exemplifies this. The male swan had lost his previous mate before coming to the rescue and was extremely sad. The volunteers at CWR worked hard to make sure he ate. One night, an injured female black swan was brought in. The male, in the yard, heard her cries in the main shelter building and sat outside the wall closest to the female for weeks until she was brought outside. She slept in the kennel next to him, and he would scoot close to her and talk to her all night. After another couple of weeks, they began their courtship dance (a mating ritual performed in the water where the two swans perform intricate neck and wing movements), and they are now inseparable.

By the time I left the CWR, I could recognize the birds for who they were — individuals with distinct personalities who care for each other and the humans who look after them. Most of the permanent residents of the rescue, including Mr. “T” the Turkey, Marm a Lade the Rooser, Rupert the duck and Pringles the Grey Goose, have such big personalities, they have their own Facebook pages, which I encourage everyone to take some time to visit.

Stay tuned for more information on bird adoption and my continued conversion to being a “bird guy”.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2013/01/what-to-expect-when-youre-expecting-a-bird/feed/0Housetraining TroubleshootingCommon problems can crop up during housetraining. Read this article to troubleshoot and help your dog eliminate appropriately.https://www.petfinder.com/developers/api-docs/terms.htmlPetfinder Interface Access and Data Use Terms of ServicePetfinder Prize Pack Giveaway Official RulesxWhat Is the Healthiest Cat Food?We have recently been seeing huge amounts of obesity and associated diseases in cats. Find out how to feed your cat healthy food here.Michigan shelter pups get a burn-free dog runhttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/09/michigan-shelter-pups-get-a-burn-free-dog-run/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/09/michigan-shelter-pups-get-a-burn-free-dog-run/#commentsMon, 10 Sep 2012 08:30:24 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/blog/?p=1750The Humane Society of West Michigan has wonderful, long, spacious dog runs. However, the runs were filled with pea gravel that was burning the dogs’ paw pads when it got hot outside. Our Rescue U volunteers fixed that. We took out five tons of gravel and leveled out the runs …

The Humane Society of West Michigan has wonderful, long, spacious dog runs. However, the runs were filled with pea gravel that was burning the dogs’ paw pads when it got hot outside. Our Rescue U volunteers fixed that.

We took out five tons of gravel and leveled out the runs to get them ready to lay down AstroTurf. Thanks to the generous support of the Animal Rescue Site, we were able to purchase recycled turf from Duke University to install in these runs (it had been used in Duke’s football stadium!).

Installing it was no easy task. The turf was rolled into 75-90 ft. rolls that weighed approximately 600 lbs. each. This meant that we ended up rolling out about 3,000 lbs. of turf in one afternoon. Once it was rolled out we had to fold it and drag it into the pens. It took six of us just to move and place each roll. The edges all had to be pounded into the gravel and the seams epoxied with a nasty, sticky green goop.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/09/michigan-shelter-pups-get-a-burn-free-dog-run/feed/0What Is the Healthiest Cat Food?In this expert Q & A, learn how to find the best food for your cat.Is Wet Cat Food Better Than Dry?Deciding what to feed is tough! Find out if your cat should be eating dry food, wet food or both here!donate.jpgNo more burned paws! Rescue U fixes up a Michigan shelterhttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/08/no-more-burned-paws-rescue-u-fixes-up-a-michigan-shelter/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/08/no-more-burned-paws-rescue-u-fixes-up-a-michigan-shelter/#commentsFri, 24 Aug 2012 11:00:19 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/blog/?p=1373Rescue U volunteers have arrived at the Humane Society of West Michigan in Walker and begun a massive renovation project! We have a lot of work to do, and only a week to do it. Among our projects: AstroTurf to protect paws: There are some long dog runs in the back of the …

AstroTurf to protect paws: There are some long dog runs in the back of the shelter that have a pea-gravel base. The gravel gets really hot in the summer and burns the paws of the dogs, so we are going to put AstroTurf in the dog runs, which will save paws and be much easier for the staff to clean.

A new dog agility course: Thanks to all the generous people who donated via our Groupon Grassroots campaign, we raised enough money to put in a dog agility course and play area in a space that’s currently just a big, fenced-in area. Once the course is installed, the dogs will have plenty of activities to occupy them when they go to the yard to play.

Sound baffling to lower stress: Inside the shelter, the area where the dogs are housed is extremely noisy, which stresses the dogs, so we are going to install sound baffling in the kennels to stop the echo and quiet the kennel down.

Organizational shelving: We are going to add shelving to organize the shelter’s pet-food bank program, the Kibble Konnection, which helps low-income pet parents provide food for their pets.

A new sanitation barrier: To help prevent the spread of disease among cats, we’re installing a sanitation barrier in the cat-intake area. A sheet of plastic resembling a shower curtain will hang between the stacks of cages so that when cats sneeze and cough, they don’t transmit upper-respiratory infections to the cats in the cages across from them.

Painting and organizing: We’ll also be painting and organizing the reception/admitting area and the vet clinic.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/08/no-more-burned-paws-rescue-u-fixes-up-a-michigan-shelter/feed/0Rabbit Adoption Sample Goodie BagsThe Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society provides a fun, informational packet and gift bag to each of their adopters. Find out more about what the group puts in their adoption kit here!donate.jpgFudge, sweat and cheers: A shelter renovation to rememberhttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/06/fudge_sweat_and_cheers_a_shelt/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/06/fudge_sweat_and_cheers_a_shelt/#commentsWed, 06 Jun 2012 18:00:25 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/blog/?p=1018The Petfinder Foundation’s Rescue U volunteers are back from an 11-day shelter renovation at the Humane Society of Jefferson County in Tennessee. The trip was a complete success, and one that will live on in my heart forever. We endured long, brutally hot days, but the sheer determination of our …

]]>The Petfinder Foundation’s Rescue U volunteers are back from an 11-day shelter renovation at the Humane Society of Jefferson County in Tennessee. The trip was a complete success, and one that will live on in my heart forever. We endured long, brutally hot days, but the sheer determination of our volunteers and the unwavering support of the community made this renovation extra-special. Here are a few of my favorite memories from the trip:

Heat and treats: One of the biggest questions when Rescue U is renovating a shelter is, how we are going to feed everyone? Typically, the answer is peanut butter and jelly. This was not the case in Jefferson City. By our second day there, members of the community who’d caught wind of what we were doing at the shelter started showing up with water, Gatorade, sweet tea, lunch, dinner and delicious treats for all the volunteers. It’s hard to describe how nice it feels to eat a piece of homemade fudge or a slice of cheesecake after a wonderful lunch prepared by members of the community. This really gave all the volunteers a welcome sense of home while they were all so far away from theirs.

Hot roofs and warm hearts: Our most impressive accomplishment was the construction and completion of 12′x35′ cat enclosure that we jokingly called the cathouse. This was Rescue U’s largest single project to date. Not only was it a massive undertaking, built from the ground up, but we also had to contend with temperatures of 115-plus degrees up on the roof. With sweat pouring off us, we toiled all day and into the night to finish the roof so that we’d have enough time to complete the inside.

Our volunteers gladly worked over the next few days, including Memorial Day, to finish the inside, complete with windows, doors, an air-conditioning/heating unit and some beautiful latticework to make the house look more welcoming to potential adopters. We also built an enclosed outdoor play area for the cats so they can get some sun and outdoor time.

It was all smiles when we pushed the last cat cage into the house and set it up, all of us knowing that we had just improved the lives of so many cats by providing them with an environment that was stress-free and easier to clean. It gave me a great sense of accomplishment to see the cats who had been there a while, in a virtually windowless environment, lean into the sun in their new, and hopefully temporary, home.

Doggy treats: Don’t think we forgot about the dogs. The dogs at this shelter were singular in their temperament and disposition. I can honestly say I have never seen a group of shelter dogs that were so well-behaved and happy. Now they’re going to be even happier. At the bottom of the hill we built two big exercise pens for them to run around and socialize in. At the top of the hill we built a meet-and-greet area where people can meet the dogs in a stress-free environment outside of the kennel, so that the dogs’ true personalities can to come out and win the hearts of their new families. We also added many new kennels and concrete pads so that the dogs will not be overcrowded and can live in sanitary, happy place.

Although the record-breaking heat was, at times, defeating, the resolve of our volunteers and the community that supported us never was. I’ve learned that the determination of a few can change the lives of many, and this was the case in Jefferson City, TN. This renovation will be a reminder to all involved that it’s possible to make a difference. All you have to do is something, because at the end of the day, the smallest contribution makes more of a difference than the largest indifference.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/06/fudge_sweat_and_cheers_a_shelt/feed/0rescueu_roof.jpgBookmark and ShareBack from Afghanistan, a veteran adopts on Memorial Dayhttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/05/memorial_day_adoption/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/05/memorial_day_adoption/#commentsTue, 29 May 2012 15:52:53 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/blog/?p=1011The Rescue U volunteers had barely completed the meet-and-greet pens at the Humane Society of Jefferson County when the Diaz family stopped by the shelter looking to adopt a dog on Memorial Day. The Diazes meet Charlie. It was only fitting, on this patriotic holiday, that the dad had just …

It was only fitting, on this patriotic holiday, that the dad had just come home from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. While he was there, his platoon worked in partnership with a K-9 unit, which he said was a huge comfort. The family was looking for a medium-sized dog who would go on jogs and enjoy playing with the children.

Though we’d been here only a week, we knew just who to introduce them to. Charlie is a young Lab mix with a sweet, loving soul. I got to introduce them at his kennel and the sparks flew.

It was so wonderful to say, “Can I take you to our new meet-and-greet area? We just built it for the shelter.” The Diazes and Charlie played and bonded, and the family was soon filling out preliminary adoption papers. So today, another pet started to make his way home, and everyone here was bolstered to see their efforts really work. Awesome!

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/05/memorial_day_adoption/feed/0diaz-adoption.jpgBookmark and ShareIn Tennessee, an abandoned Rottweiler wins heartshttps://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/05/rescue_u_renovation_in_tn_meet/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/05/rescue_u_renovation_in_tn_meet/#commentsWed, 23 May 2012 13:50:52 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/blog/?p=1010The Petfinder Foundation‘s Rescue U is here in Jefferson City, TN, renovating the Humane Society of Jefferson County, a shelter that desperately needs our help. The team — students from Tennessee’s University of Knoxville and Pennsylvania’s Delaware Valley College, as well as volunteers from Oklahoma and even one from Michigan …

The Petfinder Foundation‘s Rescue U is here in Jefferson City, TN, renovating the Humane Society of Jefferson County, a shelter that desperately needs our help. The team — students from Tennessee’s University of Knoxville and Pennsylvania’s Delaware Valley College, as well as volunteers from Oklahoma and even one from Michigan — are building a new dog meet-and-greet area, replacing the old fencing on the kennels and capping them, building shelves and updating the shelter’s interior design to make the layout easier for the employees to do their great work.

Outside, we’re building another meet-and-greet area, a large exercise pen and a building just for cats; updating the dilapidated perimeter fencing, adding drainage pipes and building new kennels. All this work will give the pets a chance to run and play and meet their future owners in a quiet, comfortable setting.

I was able to meet some of the amazing pets at the shelter, including Aggie, a Rottweiler who was found two months ago, tied up in the backyard of an abandoned foreclosed home in Jefferson County. She weighed just 61 lbs. (she should weigh 80-100) and had damaged her trachea straining against the chain in an effort to find food.

Since then, Aggie has put on 20 lbs. and turned into a very happy camper! She is 6 years old and very mellow. She has an amazing temperament, and is just as comfortable with cats as she is with the other dogs at the shelter. Shelter manager Melissa Enck says, “She is a great walker, doesn’t tug or try and lead.”

Aggie has a sweet disposition and is extremely affectionate, house trained and great with children. My hope is that during this renovation, someone will come into the shelter and spend a little time with Aggie. If that happens, my guess is that she won’t be at the shelter for long after that.

]]>https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/05/rescue_u_renovation_in_tn_meet/feed/0aggie2.jpgBookmark and ShareA Tennessee shelter gets a much-needed makeover (and cat room!)https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/05/rescue_u_heads_to_jefferson_co/
https://www.petfinder.com/blog/2012/05/rescue_u_heads_to_jefferson_co/#commentsMon, 21 May 2012 12:00:24 +0000https://www.petfinder.com/blog/?p=1008The Petfinder Foundation’s Rescue U team is heading to Tennessee’s Humane Society of Jefferson County, where from May 22-30, the student volunteers will complete a staggering number of projects to renovate the shelter. The Jefferson County shelter is near and dear to the students’ hearts: Shelter manager Melissa Enck is …

The Petfinder Foundation’s Rescue U team is heading to Tennessee’s Humane Society of Jefferson County, where from May 22-30, the student volunteers will complete a staggering number of projects to renovate the shelter. The Jefferson County shelter is near and dear to the students’ hearts: Shelter manager Melissa Enck is a graduate of Delaware Valley College — where Rescue U got its start.

Today is traveling day. Christine Yacco, a Rescue U and Delaware Valley College alum, and I are driving from Pennsylvania to Jefferson City, TN. We spent hours yesterday loading a U-Haul with tools and supplies. In a normal car, it would be an 11-hour drive. In our loaded-down truck, it will definitely take a few hours more.

Doug Woolsey, a Rescue U program manager based in Tucson, is meeting us at the shelter. Christine, Doug and I will get all the supplies and work plans ready. We’ll also pre-pour the concrete foundation for the new cat-enrichment area that we’re building for the shelter.

The students can then jump right in on Tuesday when they start working. This is going to be a great trip and the shelter staff and board of directors are so excited and appreciative. They’ve even promised to cook for us. You have to love Southern hospitality!

Rescue U will turn this empty space into a cat-enrichment area.

The cat enrichment area is being built on an unused piece of land at the shelter. The structure will be our biggest cat house to date, and will come with heat and air conditioning, a sink, two indoor playrooms and two attached outdoor play yards for the cats.

And that’s just one of the cool projects the students will be completing on this renovation. Check out some of the other projects we will be writing about in the days to come!